Best Skimmer
Updated DailyNo tags available
Rankings use category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency. Affiliate relationships do not affect scores.
The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) is a migratory dragonfly species belonging to the Libellulidae family. Also known as the Globe Skimmer, it is distributed across temperate and tropical regions on every continent except Antarctica. The species is defined by its long-distance flight capabilit...
The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae, native to the Americas and distributed from the southern United States through Central and South America. Mature males display a distinctive deep magenta to purple coloration on the abdomen, while females an...
Celithemis eponina, the Halloween pennant, is a dragonfly of the skimmer family Libellulidae native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada to Florida and west to the Great Plains. It is named for its orange-and-black wing markings, which suggest the colors associated with Halloween....
The Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) is a large dragonfly native to the western regions of the United States. It is particularly notable for the male's striking appearance, which features an entirely brick-red body and vivid orange wing veins. These insects typically inhabit ponds, streams, and wa...
The Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is a widespread dragonfly of the skimmer family, Libellulidae, native to North America. Mature males are highly recognizable by their broad, dark wing bands and a distinct, chalky white abdomen. Females and immature males look quite different, featuring brown a...
The Seaside Dragonlet is a dragonfly in the family Libellulidae, recognized as the only North American dragonfly species that breeds in saline coastal habitats. It is found in salt marshes and mangrove swamps along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. The species is relatively small an...
The Scarlet Dwarf (Nannophya pygmaea) is a species of dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae. It is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and parts of Australia. This insect is widely recognized as the smallest known dragonfly species in the world, boasting a total wingspan...
The Fulvous Forest Skimmer (Neurothemis fulvia) is a dragonfly species found across parts of South and Southeast Asia, including India, China, and Indonesia. The adult male is distinguished by deep orange-brown coloration covering much of its wings, while females are paler and more translucent. The...
The Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is a dragonfly species found across much of North America, from southern Canada to Mexico. It is named for the twelve black spots evenly distributed across its four wings. Mature males additionally develop white patches between the black spots, giving...
The Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea) is a medium-sized dragonfly of the Libellulidae family distributed across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Mature males develop a bright red coloration and possess a distinctly broad, flattened abdomen, while females typically display yellowish-brown hues....
The Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta) is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae, found across much of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is medium-sized with distinctive dark bands across its wings and is known for its habit of perching on the ground or on low veg...
The Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae native to eastern North America. Mature males develop a powdery blue pruinescence across the body, while females and immature males are predominantly green, a sexual dimorphism notable among North Ameri...
The Elfin Skimmer (Nannothemis bella) is a small dragonfly in the family Libellulidae and the smallest dragonfly species native to North America, with adults measuring roughly 20–25 millimeters in length. Males develop a powdery blue coloration on the abdomen, while females are patterned with yellow...
The Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) is a dragonfly in the family Libellulidae native to North America. It is identifiable by broad, dark, saddle-shaped basal patches on the hind wings. This large, migratory species is commonly observed across ponds, lakes, and marshes and is also found in parts o...
The Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) is a large dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. Mature males display vivid orange-red coloration across the abdomen and face, while females and immature males are typically brownish with lighter l...
The Carolina Saddlebags, or Tramea carolina, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family Libellulidae. It is commonly found in the eastern United States, frequenting ponds, lakes, and other quiet bodies of water. The insect derives its common name from the large, irregularly shaped, da...
The Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is a species of dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family, Libellulidae. It is found across a broad range of North America, typically inhabiting ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams. The species is distinguished by the prominent dark patches at the base of i...
The Eastern Amberwing (*Perithemis tenera*) is a small species of dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family, Libellulidae. It is native to eastern North America and is commonly found inhabiting ponds, marshes, and other quiet bodies of water. The species is distinguished by the distinct amber and or...
The Filigree skimmer (*Pseudoleon superbus*) is a distinctive Libellulidae dragonfly found in desert regions of the southwestern United States. Its most notable feature is the complex, patterned brown markings resembling filigree on its transparent wings. These patterns provide camouflage within sun...
The Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) is a species of dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family Libellulidae, native to western North America. The insect is easily identified by the distinct pattern of exactly eight prominent dark spots distributed across its broad wings, alongside darker p...
The Four-spotted Skimmer, scientifically known as Libellula quadrimaculata, is a common dragonfly species with a widespread Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a medium-sized dragonfly recognizable by its golden-brown body and the distinct dark spots on the leading e...
The Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) is a dragonfly species belonging to the skimmer family Libellulidae, found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Its geographic range extends from the southern United States down through Central America and into parts of South America. T...
The Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) is a species of migratory dragonfly belonging to the skimmer family, Libellulidae. It is distinguished by the broad, dark red or reddish-brown patches located at the base of its hindwings. This dragonfly is commonly found across the southern United States, Mexico,...
The Scarlet Skimmer, scientifically named Crocothemis servilia, is a medium-sized dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae. Native to Asia, including regions from the Middle East to Japan, the species is highly adaptable to disturbed habitats such as ponds and marshes. The adult male is recogn...
The Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) is a dragonfly species native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. They are typically found inhabiting rocky streams and canyons, where the bright red males frequently bask on large boulders near the water. The species...
The Filigree Skimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) is a dragonfly species found in riparian zones across parts of the Americas, including the southwestern United States. It belongs to the Libellulidae family and is notable for its intricately patterned wing venation, which provides camouflage against the da...
You're in. We'll email you when new Skimmer entries land.